Chipper Jones' final season

Atlanta Braves

Chipper Jones' final season

Highlights from Chipper Jones' 19th and final season with the Atlanta Braves.

Longtime Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said he would retire following the 2012 season in an emotional announcement March 22, in Kissimmee, Fla., during spring training. Here we highlight the future Hall of Famer's 19th and final season with Atlanta.

April 9: Two days after his announcement Chipper had arthroscopic knee surgery meaning he would miss the team's season opener against the New York Mets. At the team's second stop in Houston, former Astro great Craig Biggio presents the Braves star with a white Stetson hat.

April 10: Going directly from the disabled list into the lineup without a rehab assignment, Chipper Jones makes his season debut. Chipper hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat.

April 15: His ailing knee forced Chipper Jones to miss the Braves' home opener, but he returned to the lineup with a bang for the series finally against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Jones hit what he called a hanging curve ball from Chris Narveson for a three-run homer in the third inning that gave the Braves the lead.

April 24: Chipper Jones received a few modest gifts from teammates before taking the field on his 40th birthday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and celebrated it the best way possible - with a home run.

May 2: Chipper Jones is mobbed at the plate after ending a seesaw battle with the Phillies at Turner Field in the 11th inning with a two-run home run - his 458th in the majors. Jones' homer ended the Braves' eight-game losing streak to the Phillies, dating back to last season. He said the homer will hold a special place on his career highlights. "That's right up there just because the team that we're kind of shooting for in the division obviously is the Phillies," said Jones.

May 4: Chipper Jones matches a career high with his 18th five-RBI game against the Colorado Rockies. He becomes the second Brave to have at least five RBIs in a game after his 40th birthday. (The first was Babe Ruth in 1935, when he had six RBIs and the last three homers of his career in a game for the Boston Braves.)

May 13: Chipper Jones got a rousing ovation from a packed crowd during a ceremony in St. Louis where he was presented with a signed portrait from the Cardinals organization.

May 18: Chipper Jones walks around after getting hit with a third inning ground ball in Tampa Bay. The hit would keep Jones off the field for seven games before being placed on the disabled list.

May 21: The bags being used in the four games played in Cincinnati were made to honor the career of Braves' Chipper Jones. Jones, batting .299 on the season, had only one at-bat during the series, a pinch-hit walk.

June 10: Chipper Jones is activated off the 15-day disabled list and returns to the lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays. Chipper goes 0-for-3 with a walk.

June 27: Chipper Jones celebrates the 460th home run of his career off Diamondbacks pitcher Trevor Cahill with teammate Dan Uggla (left). The solo shot put him 33rd on the list of top 300 home run hitters in baseball. Two days later he hit the 535th double of his career placing him 33rd on the list of major league players with more than 400 doubles.

July 3: Chipper Jones has five hits (two doubles, three singles, and four RBIs) to go with a stolen base against the Chicago Cubs. It was Chipper's first 5-for-5 game since 2002.

July 10: Chipper Jones hits a single into right field in his only at-bat of his eighth All-Star appearance. The National League won 8-0. Jones would enter the break hitting .318 with 6 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Aug. 16 2012: 33,157 fans lined up for Chipper Jones bobblehead night and would not leave disappointed.

Aug. 16: Chipper Jones follows through on his second home run of the game - and the 2,700th hit of his career - against the San Diego Padres at Turner Field.

Aug. 27: Chipper Jones acknowledges the San Diego Padres bench after being presented a surf board in recognition of his 20 years in baseball in San Diego.

Sept. 2: Martin Prado showers Chipper Jones with some dirt as they celebrate Chipper Jones' three-run, walk-off home run in the 11th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sept. 9: Jeered, heckled and serenaded with derisive chants of "Lar-ry! Lar-ry!" for years, Mets fans give Chipper Jones a standing ovation as he walked off the field in New York for a final time. Jones, who hit the first two home runs of his career at Shea, was presented 3-D artwork featuring the Mets' former home.

Sept. 12: Chipper Jones acknowledges the crowd for his final at-bat at Miller Park. Chipper left the plate empty-handed but left Milwaukee with a year's supply of bratwursts as compensation.

Sept. 23: In his final game in Philadelphia, Chipper "Punk'd" the Phillies mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, stealing the keys from his all-terrain vehicle. Jones returned them in time to start the game. The Phillies presented Chipper with a commemorative photo of him on the left side of the plate at Citizens Park.

Sept. 25: Standing on third base, Chipper Jones cheers along with Braves fans as Freddie Freeman hits a game-winning home run in the ninth inning over the Marlins that clinched a playoff spot for Atlanta.

Sept. 25: Jason Heyward pours champagne over Chipper Jones in the Braves clubhouse as the team celebrates clinching a playoff spot.

Sept. 28: Prior to the final regular season homestand against the N.Y. Mets, the Braves held a special ceremony paying tribute to Chipper Jones. The team presented Chipper with a commemorative third base bag, a plaque made from Turner Field bricks and a trip to Hawaii. An emotional Chipper addressed the fans and thanked the team for two decades of memories.

Sept. 28: With a tip of his helmet, Chipper Jones approached the plate for the final three regular season games at Turner Field. He went 1-for-10 with 2 walks and a run scored. “I was an emotional wreck all night,” Jones said. “It’s so overwhelming. And the support and the love in the ballpark tonight was just something that it’s hard to prepare yourself for.”

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Longtime Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said he would retire following the 2012 season in an emotional announcement March 22, in Kissimmee, Fla., during spring training. Here we highlight the future Hall of Famer's 19th and final season with Atlanta.

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